Air Show Traffic Warning Issued

Organizers: Don't Drive Out To Beach

FORT LAUDERDALE - — The warnings are going out early: Don't drive to Fort Lauderdale beach the weekend of May 11 and 12 to the Shell Air & Sea Show.

You'll either get stuck in traffic or police will send you back west, to downtown or Holiday Park, so you can leave your car and take a shuttle bus to the beach.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected on the beachfront that weekend to watch the second year of demonstrations by military and civilian daredevils in the air and on the water. Last year, the beachfront crowd was estimated at as many as 800,000 people.

City officials will start getting the word out next weekend with flashing electronic message boards at key intersections. They will inform motorists about limited beach parking and closed roads and bridges during the beach extravaganza.

Motorists will be encouraged to pay $3 to park in a downtown garage or in Holiday Park, and pay another $3 per person to take a bus to the beach. Buses will pick up downtown passengers outside the Broward County library, 100 S. Andrews Ave. At Holiday Park, the pickup point is by the airplane near Sunrise Boulevard.

This week, thousands of people who live and work near the beach off Las Olas and Sunrise boulevards will receive special passes to get to and from their homes and businesses during the show.

City commissioners previewed a traffic plan on Tuesday that will involve 160 police officers and police service aides working two shifts as well as dozens of park workers and other city employees. Mickey Markoff, the show's promoter, is picking up the city's tab for extra police officers.

"There's no doubt in my mind the beach is going to get plugged up, and you'll have some people who think they can beat the system and try to find a place to park," police District Commander Dan Doughty said.

Police and Markoff have hustled the past few weeks to put together a new traffic plan, because the show was forced to move north so the Navy's Blue Angels can practice high-speed acrobatics without forcing Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to close. The show's center moved 1 1/4 miles north on State Road A1A to Sunrise Boulevard. Last year, it was at Las Olas Boulevard.

The move means a stretch of A1A from Vistamar Street to Northeast 19th Street, in front of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, will be closed for equipment and stages. That stretch will remain closed from midnight Wednesday before the event through Monday morning. Traffic will be detoured around the area.

Last year, police kept the busy beachfront boulevard open during the show, but cars moved at a crawl.

Motorists who want to cruise to the beach should take Oakland Park Boulevard or the 17th Street Causeway bridge. Las Olas Boulevard, now a mess from construction, will be closed east of 15th Avenue except to motorists with passes. Sunrise Boulevard will be closed east of 26th Avenue.

Also Tuesday, Broward County commissioners agreed to spend $50,000 on the show. In exchange, Broward's Tourist Development Council's name will be included in various promotions and events, and county officials will have access to VIP festivities.